An attempt to understand the ways in which children react to sexual abuse

Five categories for typical reactions

Recognizes that most children are groomed within a familial situation

Are chosen for being compliant and least likely to complain

Offender builds on childs trust/need for affection

5The Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome

Is a model, not a clinical diagnosis

Secrecy

Helplessness

Entrapment/accommodation

Delayed, conflicted and unconvincing disclosure

Retraction

(is a manifestation of) secondary trauma in the crisis of discovery.

6SecrecyWhy dont children tell? Why do children keep the secret?

Threats spoken, implied, child or loved one

Physically abused child afraid of continued abuse

Promises of safety for child and loved ones if victim keeps secret

Children long for approval and affection, may keep silent for fear of losing parents love and approval

7Secrecy

The secrecy alone tells the child that the act is bad and dangerous

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY IF YOU JUST DONT TELL

The world inverts for the child, now (s)he is responsible for the stability of the family

8SecrecyThe messages victims hear if they tell. . .

That couldnt have happened in our family

Thats not nice to talk about

He didnt mean you any harm

I dont want to hear you talk like that again

You are a slut and a liar

Who would believe YOU

9SecrecyMany children dont tell for fear of rejection, blame or anger

Why didnt you tell me sooner?

How could you keep that a secret for so long?

What were you trying to hide?

How could that have happened when Im always here?

10The POWER of SecrecyUnless the victim has the opportunity and permission to share with a receptive adult the existence of the powerful secret of sexual abuse the crime may never come to light, the perpetrator will remain free to victimize others, and the victim may spend a lifetime filled with pain, lack of intimacy and anger 11HelplessnessChildren are inherently helpless and subordinate, dependent and immature

Many in chronic situations begin to withdraw emotionally, psychologically

See PTSD, dissociative disorders definition

12Entrapment and Accommodation

Chronic secrecy, helplessness cause the child to feel trapped

Acceptance of the situation becomes a form of survival

Chronic SXAB children make sense of power and control or blame themselves for continuing abuse this is affirmed by the perpetrator, i.e., Daddys Little Girl

PHAB children believe they deserve abuse because of bad behavior

13Entrapment and Accommodation

EMAB/neglected children find I deserve it systems of belief in themselves his/her failure to achieve any control leads to this self-hate and self-debasement

The child must find a way to adapt to the betrayal by an otherwise idealized figure

The child then must learn to accept and adapt to the situation

14Entrapment and Accommodation

Psychological ways a child accommodates can include (PTSD/dissociative disorders)

fragmenting and, in extreme cases

manifesting multiple personalities

Unless the child seeks or receives intervention, no option exists to stop the abuse

15Delayed, Conflicting and Unconvincing Disclosure

Iceberg Effect

Adults who ask a victim about abuse PRIOR to childs decision to tell must recognize the questions may create an acute emotional or psychological crisis for the child

Subsequent disclosures may be fraught with anxiety, retractions and inconsistencies, i.e., unconvincing

16Delayed, Conflicting and Unconvincing Disclosure

Remember that defense mechanisms employed to help the child cope may produce fragmented or repressed memory

Most sexual abuse cases are never reported

If a victim does report, the corrosive results of her accommodation strategies (drug abuse, running away, delinquency, dissociation, accommodation) damage her credibility as a witness against her abuser

17Delayed, Conflicting and Unconvincing Disclosure

The victim most often reveals the secret when he/she is least likely to appear convincing

After all, this is not the first time. . .

18An Alternative Approach for Some Victims

Remember, not all are angry or delinquent

Some hide their victimization and internal conflict well

They may appear popular and successful (honor student, star athlete, etc.), a façade they learned from the perpetrator

Adult reactions to disclosures are equally dismissive (You dont act like you were abused you are too well adjusted to have been a victim. . .)

19Retraction

Children who disclose may be flooded with guilt, fear, blame, betrayal, confusion

For youth, boys fear that the victimization may cause them to become homosexuals girls fear they are no longer virgins, or their future sexual partners will be able to tell

Sexual norm confusion occurs in future relationships, i.e., victim traded sex for the attention of the abuser. Victim may view this as normal way to give and obtain affection

28Traumatic SexualizationBehaviors and Outcomes

If the childs memory of sexual contact during victimization was one of revulsion, fear, pain, anger or other negative emotions, this pairing may effect later sexual experiences

This aversion may account for sexual dysfunctions of victims

29Betrayal

Refers to the dynamic by which children discover that their perpetrator, whom they were vitally dependent upon, has caused them harm, or the child believes the adult knew the victimization was taking place but did nothing to protect them

Finkelhor, Brown 1985 30Betrayal

Trusted person (perpetrator) manipulated them with lies, promises and erosion of moral standards

Victim learns that person (perpetrator) they trusted has actually treated them with callous disregard

Finkelhor, Brown 1985 31Betrayal

Family member, especially mother, who knew of victimization but was unwilling or unable to protect the child

Family members whose attitude towards the victim has significantly changed (post disclosure)

Finkelhor, Brown 1985 32BetrayalHigher SenseLower Sense

Trusted person

Loving father who offends at later age

Natural siblings rejection

Stranger

Immoral stepfather who is sexually aggressive

Stepbrother support of perpetrator

Children who are disbelieved, blamed or ostracized undoubtedly experience a greater sense of betrayal than those who are supported throughout the disclosure process 33BetrayalBehaviors and Outcomes

Severe levels of grief and depression emanate from victims abuse by a trusted loved one

Victims need to reestablish trust and security may manifest itself in clinginess and dependent behavior in the very young victim in adults, impaired judgment (broken radar) and issues of over dependency

34BetrayalBehaviors and Outcomes

Female victims of incest have a markedly high vulnerability to relationships which are physically, psychologically and sexually abusive. In extreme circumstances, they fail to recognize obvious red flags when these partners become sexually abusive toward their children

Internalization

35BetrayalBehaviors and Outcomes

For adult male victims, future relationships are affected by anger, hostility and aggressive behavior. These behaviors are recognized as the victims way of protecting themselves from future betrayals

Externalization

36Powerlessness

The process in which the child victims will, desires and sense of efficacy are continually contravened. The childs sense of self, body space, territory or boundary are repeatedly violated against the childs will

It is reinforced when childrens attempt to halt or disclose the abuse fails

It increases when children feel fear and a circumstantial entrapment in the abusive situation

37PowerlessnessBehaviors and Outcomes

Fear/anxiety and disorders related to them these fears and disorders can extend into adulthood

Nightmares, phobias, somatic complaints

Effect on efficacy and coping skills, fear of being revictimized, innate fear of the inability to protect oneself and fear of ineffectiveness in life, relationships, school, work, etc.

High risk of revictimization looking/acting like a victim attracts predators

38Powerlessness Behaviors and Outcomes

Another reaction to powerlessness, some sexual abuse victims (especially male victims) may have a dysfunctional need to control or dominate (power)

Appear to be tough, aggressive, fearsome, to retain the power they lost to the offender the victim recognizes with the offender, thus becomes the offender

39Stigmatization

Victims personal feelings of badness, shame, guilt are communicated to the victim through circumstances and experiences that become incorporated into the childs self image

From the abuser who may blame victim for activity, demean the victim or furtively convey a sense of shame about the sexually abusive behavior

50Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement OfficersInvestigative issues surrounding adult (teen) sexual assault have no application and should not be a consideration with child sexual abuse

12-16 years of age

Issues of incest

Consent

Outcry validity

Cognitive manipulation

Alcohol or other usage

51Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement OfficersVictim may love or be dependent on perpetrator

Serves no purpose for officer to indicate your opinion ever

Overhearing other officers/witnesses

Remember the very definition of incest is severe dysfunctionality, where children are victims of adult behavior

52Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement OfficersCreate an environment within which the child is comfortable

Remove barriers

Never at a desk

Address the victims FEARS

53Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement OfficersBe cognizant of your language and phraseology

Avoid statements implying blame avoid the What did you do?

Remember that the child has no responsibility in what occurred and be sure questions reflect this

Example Did you put your mouth on his penis? No. He made me put his penis in my mouth.

54Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement OfficersKnow when to initiate or stop questioning

Child may be

overwhelmed

fatigued

The younger the child the shorter their attention span

55Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement OfficersWhen speaking. . .

Soften your tone, volume, pitch

Ask one question at a time

Be comfortable with silence allow the child time to process

56Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement OfficersWhen speaking with children, do acknowledge their emotions but do not interpret their emotionsI see your crying How does it feelThat was terrible That mustve really hurtvs 57Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement OfficersBe honest with yourself

If you are not the type of officer who can handle listening to a five-year old talk about her father ejaculating in her face, then dont put yourself in that position

Children can read your emotions and will react to you

58Sensitivity Tips for Law Enforcement OfficersLastly. . .

Dont forget to call CPS

59Insensitivity is Fostered by

Ignorance

Complacency

Laziness

Fear

Past

60DissociationDisengagement of feelings, sensations, behaviors, cognitive knowledge during abuse incidents 61DissociationPsycho (physiological) process in which there is a separation of emotions, feeling and sensations from a trauma/victimization

Is a universal survival response

When an abusive incident (sexual, physical, witness DV) occurs and is more than a childs mind can tolerate, he/she must ESCAPE

Human (psychological instinct) to survive kicks in

62DissociationChildren are most susceptible to dissociation

Small in size, vulnerable

Dependent

Developmentally, need for nurturance

Ill equipped to integrate traumatic/abusive experiences

Many are left with no alternative except to dissociate

63Dissociation

Occurs on a continuum ranging from normal experiences to extreme Multiple Personality Disorder

Examples of Normal dissociation

Highway hypnosis

Engrossed in television (movie)

Daydreaming

Duration is brief, individual realizes the dissociation occurred, and quickly reestablishes control

64DissociationDissociation may be used as a defense during trauma or during an experience that is not in a normal range for a given developmental stage of life. Dissociation becomes problematic (dysfunctional) when

It becomes a primary defense rather than an emergency measure

Individual (victim) cannot reestablish control

Victim has no awareness of dissociation

65DissociationMore severe forms (on a continuum) of dissociation are seen with the following experiences

Multiple abusers

Violent or sadistic

Onset of abuse at an early age

Chronic/abuse over extended period of time

Perpetrator is a known loved one who otherwise has a nurturing role

66Behaviors Associated with Dissociation

Impulsive/compulsive/self abusive behaviors

Spending

Stealing

Self-mutilation

Substance abuse

Exercising

Cleaning

Accident proneness

Promiscuity

67Behaviors Associated with Dissociation

Inability to remember recent events

Loss of time

Panic attacks

Anxiety

Phobias

History of disorganized behavior

Inability to complete

Easily distracted

Forgetfulness

68Behaviors Associated with Dissociation

Behavioral manifestations

Staring

Rocking (repetitive movement)

Rigidity in body

Unresponsiveness

Flat affect while reciting or thinking of abuse

Seizure-like behavior

Regressive behaviors

Voice, posture, habits

69Verbal Cues to Past Dissociation

I left my body and went to the ceiling

I dont know what happened to me or my brother

I saw it happen to this other little boy

I knew it was happening but I thought about something else

I remember him walking in the door, and the next thing I remember is him walking out

He came over to the bed, turned out the light. . . and I went out to play (intra-interview amnesia)

70VICTIMOLOGY

What Every Investigator Needs to Know About the Dynamics of Sexually Victimized Children